Candidates agree on most issues at forum

7 area Republicans run for newly created Sixth Congressional District

CORRECTION: A previous version of the story misattributed a quote to Beverly Slough that came from candidate Heather Beaven. The story read, "Slough said it was 'short-sighted and nonsense' to sign any pledge outside of that made when taking office." Updated - July 31, 2012. 8:30 p.m.

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Candidates for the newly drawn Sixth Congressional District worked to stand out during Monday’s League of Women Voters forum but found themselves agreeing on a number of issues.

Seven Republicans are running in the primary election. All but one, former restaurant chain CEO Craig Miller, 62, of Daytona Beach, showed up for the forum at the St. Johns County commission room.

All agreed on tax cuts. All stood firm on no changes in gun control, including not banning 100-round drum style cartridges such as those used in the shootings at a Colorado movie theater. All spoke highly of Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan that would lower the size of increased Medicare costs. All said they would not vote to raise the debt ceiling.

All but two — Beverly Slough, 63, of St. Johns and Fred Costello, 62, of Ormond Beach — said they would sign a no-new taxes pledge.

Slough said "something catastrophic could happen" and such a pledge would mean nothing could be done.

Costello said he wouldn’t sign a pledge but said it was “ludicrous to increase tax revenue. We’ve got to cut the budget.”

The Republicans favored upping the age of eligibility for Social Security, agreeing the system was in trouble.

Candidates favored an overhaul, although they varied in proposed time frames and changes. The general consensus was Social Security needed to be protected for those in or near eligibility, but a change is need for younger Americans. That, agreed most, would mean increasing personal responsibility or allowing younger Americans more latitude in investing for the future.

Richard Clark, 42, of Jacksonville, said the “entitlement mindset” in place needs to be changed.

When it came to contributions they had made in the district, some stumbled. That’s because a couple have spent little time in the newly created district that includes St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Putnam counties.

Both Clark and Alec Pueschel, 66, still live in Jacksonville, an area not in the district. Miller has established legal residency in Daytona Beach although he also has a home in Winter Park. Ron DeSantis, 33, has three years in the district while Costello, Slough and Billy Kogut of Ormond Beach are longtime residents.

The race is considered wide open because there’s no incumbent and thus no record to run against.

For the 75-plus people who showed up to listen, the easiest way to keep the six candidates straight turned more on personalities and backgrounds. And some repeated ideals.

In the case of Clark, it was hammering at the need to free business of unnecessary restrictions in order to get the economy going and once again create jobs.

Clark, a Jacksonville City Council member, could claim the title of small businessman. He’s the second generation of his family to own a commercial janitorial business. He grew up in St. Johns County, went to Nease High School and met his wife in school here in the seventh grade.

Costello, who served in the Florida House in 2010-12, steered away from anyone turning him into a “sound bite” as a professional politician. He called himself a citizen-legislator, pointing out he was a dentist and a business owner.

Costello is also a former mayor and commissioner from Ormond. He did refer to his record in the Legislature and the $6 billion in cuts made to the budget.

DeSantis pushed the need for a return to the Constitution and the true visions of the founding fathers. Author of a book on the Constitution, DeSantis is a lawyer and former Navy JAG officer.

DeSantis was among those exasperated with the build up of the federal bureaucracy and those “continuing to spend ourselves into oblivion.”

Slough has 33 years in St. Johns County and 10 on the St. Johns County School Board, where she now serves as chair.

She pointed out the district had “kept the budget balanced” while not eliminating personnel or educational classes. Calling herself a “proven leader,” she noted the district had gone from “mediocre” to the top school district in the state for several years running.

Pueschel said he brought to the table his “broad background” that includes serving as a Lutheran pastor, police officer and commercial pilot.

“We have lost our Constitutional way,” Pueschel said, adding there was a need to get back to basics.

Kogut said the race was not about popularity “but who can be elected and take this country back.”

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Our Founding Fathers fought for our freedom and risked their lives to have the right to choose leadership. We broke the tyrannical reigns of an oppressive King to create the greatest nation in the history of the world. As a Vietnam Veteran, I take great pride in having served our country. However, I take it as an insult to all Veterans and Patriots for an opportunist candidate to hold himself out as something he is not.
In his book, Dreams of our Founding Fathers, DeSantis takes a swipe at President Obama and cites voting as one of the virtues this country was built upon. The only problem is he forgot to read his own book.
The St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections confirms that Mr. DeSantis missed every eligible primary from 1998-2008. He also forgot to vote in the general election in 2006. While his team may want to blame it on youthful indiscretion (DeSantis is 32) do we really want to send someone to Congress who is too immature to have realized what a precious gift that voting in a representative democracy is? Or, is Mr. DeSantis simply a hypocrite? Do as I say, but not as I do? The American people are a forgiving lot. However, we don’t like people representing something they are not. We sure don’t want them representing us in Washington.